Hinge for a notebook computer

ABSTRACT

A hinge has a leaf mounted on a lid of the computer. The leaf has a tubular portion formed at a bottom of the leaf A wing extends from one side of the leaf. A notch is defined in a top edge or a bottom edge of the wing engages the mortise of the support piece to let the support piece closely contact with the wing. Even if the hinge is hit occasionally, the wing will not escape from the mortise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hinge for a notebook computer, and particularly relates to a hinge that prevents a liquid-crystal display from quivering even when the lid of a notebook computer is opened.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is well know that a notebook computer is small in size and portable, which has a display usually formed on an inner of a lid and a main body. A conventional notebook computer normally has a small hinge mounted on the main body. However, it has been found that the display quivers when the lid is opened. This reduces the useful life of the hinge.

A conventional hinge has a leaf mounted in the display of the computer, and a wing extends from one side of the leaf. A support piece is mounted on the wing and engages a lug, which can prevent the display from quivering. However, it is not a firm engagement, and the lug tends to escape from the support piece if the hinge is hit.

Therefore, the invention provides a hinge to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a hinge to prevent the display from quivering.

The hinge has a leaf mounted on a lid of the computer, the leaf has a tubular portion formed at a bottom of the leaf, and a wing extends from one side of the leaf. A support piece is securely mounted onto the wing, is perpendicular to the leaf and can contact the lid.

A notch is defined in a top edge or a bottom edge of the wing engages the mortise of the support piece to let the support piece closely contact the wing. Even if the hinge is hit occasionally, the wing will not escape from the mortise.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hinge in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hinge in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the hinge in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the hinge in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, a hinge in accordance with the present invention has a leaf (10) mounted on a lid of the computer, and a wing (110) extends from one side of the leaf (10). The leaf (10) has a tubular portion (11) formed at a bottom of the leaf (11). A support piece (20) is mounted securely on the wing (110), is perpendicular to the leaf (10) and can contact the lid of the computer. The support piece (20) has a mounting hole (21) defined through the support piece (20) and corresponds to the tubular portion (11) A mortise (210) is defined above the mounting hole (21) and corresponds to and is mounted around the wing (110). A base (13) is mounted on a main unit of the computer and has a support portion (14) extending upward from the base (13). A though hole (140) is defined through the support portion (14). A pintle (15) is mounted through the through hole (140), the mounting hole (21), and the tubular portion (11).

A notch (112) is defined in a top edge or a bottom edge of the wing (110), engages the mortise (210) of the support piece (20) to let the support piece (20) closely contacting with the wing (10). Even if the hinge is hit occasionally, the wing (110) will not escape from the mortise (210).

A washer (17) is mounted on the pintle (15) abutting the support portion (14) to reduce the friction between the support piece (20) and the support potion (14).

With reference to FIGS. 3-4, it is a second embodiment of the hinge. The wing (110) has a lug (113) extending through the mortise (210), and then the lug (113) is pressed to form an enlarged head engaged with the support piece (20) and to secure the wing (110) with the support piece (20). To keep the thickness of the combination of the wing (110) and the support piece (20) from increasing, a recess is defined in the support piece (20) and communicates with the mortise (210) to hold the enlarged head of the lug (113) inside.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A hinge comprising a leaf adapted to be mounted on a lid of a computer, the leaf having a tubular portion formed at a bottom of the leaf, and a wing extending from one side of the leaf, a support piece mounted securely onto the wing, the support piece having a mounting hole defined through the support piece, and a mortise defined above the mounting hole; a base adapted to be mounted on a main unit of the computer and having a support portion extending upward from the base, a through hole defined through the support portion; and a pintle is mounted through the through hole, the mounting hole, and the tubular portion.
 2. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a notch is defined in the wing and engages the mortise of the support piece to securely mount the wing with the support piece.
 3. The hinge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the notch is defined in a top edge of the wing.
 4. The hinge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wing has a lug extending through the mortise, and an enlarged head is formed on the lug and engages with the support piece to securely mount the wing with the support piece.
 5. The hinge as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a washer mounted on the pintle and abutting the support portion.
 6. The hinge as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a washer mounted on the pintle and abutting the support portion.
 7. The hinge as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a washer mounted on the pintle and abutting the support portion.
 8. The hinge as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a washer mounted on the pintle and abutting the support portion. 